Wednesday, 11 April is the date of a general strike in Tunisia called from Sidi Bouzid, the town which sparked the Arab uprisings.
A peaceful protest in Tunis turned violent as police attacked marchers. David Charles, a Briton, who was visiting Tunisia's capital witnessed the chaotic scene as the small group of non-violent protesters were set upon with gas canisters and batons.
In the early and middle decades of the twentieth century it was always Middle Eastern dictators who embarked on policy and legislation which liberated and empowered women in both family and society. The dictators liberated women in the good days, but retreated under pressure, and it was the populi
The uprisings across the Arab world are becoming more complex and variable as they enter their second year. This makes it all the more important to identify their main dynamics, says Volker Perthes.
Tunisia is both the pioneer of the Arab spring and its greatest success so far. But even here the political and economic tests are acute, says Vicken Cheterian.
Freedom of speech is under contention in Tunisia as never before.
A year ago, on this same day and on this same street, Tunisians came united to shout “Dégage” (Leave), a key word of the Tunisian Revolution. Today, they come to celebrate the first anniversary of their revolution.
The Arab uprisings of 2011 are provoking the European Union into a rethink of its approach to encouraging democracy in its neighbourhood. A European Endowment for Democracy with a new kind of mandate could be at the centre, says Jacqueline Hale
